What is the best way to hook up a surround sound system to a PS2?
The PlayStation makes it easy for you by coming with a built-in Digital Optical Out port for surround sound. All you need to do is buy a Digital Optical audio cable, which will set you back around AU$20 (depending on the quality of cable you buy) — most electronics outlets will have a range available for you to choose from. Simply plug one end of the cable into the back of the PS2 and attach the other end to the receiver/amplifier of your surround sound kit. You’ll also need to change the audio setting of the PS2 before you can hear games in surround sound goodness. Start your PS2 (without a game disk inserted) and go into the System Configuration menu. Once in there, switch the Optical Digital Out option to “On”, as well as switching the DTS option to “On”.
The BEST way is through the optical digital output on the back of your PS2. You’ll need a reciever that has at least one optical digital input. In doing this you will be able to listen to DVDs in Dolby Digital 5.1 (or sometimes called DD) and/or DTS surround sound. It all depends on your DVD if it has just Dolby Digital (more commonly found on DVDs than DTS) or both DD and DTS. Some games offer DD 5.1 for the little video clips (that move the story from one phase to another) in between game play with the actual game play being Dolby Digital 2.0. I had mine hooked up this way for a while until I lost my job and sold my stereo for the money.
